A New Packer Punter? » Brats & Beer

September 1, 2008
posted under: Derrick Frost, Jon Ryan, Ted Thompson

Let’s turn to the intersection of politics and sports and ask the question, which was more unexpected: John McCain choosing Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate or Ted Thompson today replacing punter Jon Ryan with Derrick Frost? As much as the gun-toting Miss Wasilla came out of left field, I have to say TT’s move at punter took me completely by surprise.

Had there been any suggestion the punting job was up for grabs this year? I’ll agree, Ryan had a bad habit of shanking punts — more than you’d like, anyway — but overall I thought he’d done a pretty good job the past couple years. Apparently, though, Ted and Mike Stock felt they needed someone with a little more consistency. Still, I’ll miss our Ramblin’ Canuck. (Oh, and apparently Frost is a whiner, according to the packergeeks.)

What I really didn’t get was releasing linebacker Abdul Hodge to make room for new long snapper Brett Goode. Hodge had made a huge improvement this off-season and was looking to be a big impact player in a big impact linebacking corps. Surely they could have cut Charlie Peprah or Tracy White, or at least held onto Hodge for a few weeks before dealing him in a trade. Just letting him go seems like such a waste.